close
close

Yiamastaverna

Trusted News & Timely Insights

St. Louis Blues Player of the Game vs. San Jose Sharks: “WTF” line
Washington

St. Louis Blues Player of the Game vs. San Jose Sharks: “WTF” line

They’re not known as players who make a lot of money, and they won’t be on the ice when money is on the line, but if Nathan Walker, Alexey Toropchenko and Radek Faksa get the ice time, the St. Louis fourth line has it Blues that demonstrated eagerness and willingness to make a difference.

The “WTF” line laid the foundation.

All three played their part in Tuesday’s 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken. Their contributions and willingness to get their teammates back in the fight for a second straight game paid off big on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.

The line fueled the Blues’ third period with three goals when they were down 4-1, with Faksa scoring a goal and Walker and Toropchenko each getting an assist, Walker on Faksa’s goal and Toropchenko on a Ryan Suter goal in the second period . The Blues have fallen short of winning in as many games, in each of which they were by multiple goals.

View the original article to view embedded media.

Walker was denied by Vince Dunn, followed seconds later by a Toropchenko challenge that left Yanni Gourde trailing 2-0, and then Faksa helped take the penalty that sparked the three-goal comeback that saw the Blues scored three goals in 1:55 To beat Seattle, it was the workmanlike mentality and never-give-up attitude, even after conceding three goals in the third period on Thursday, that had a positive effect on the rest of the team.

On Faksa’s goal, Walker wins a battle along the boards as he takes two Sharks players with him and pushes the puck behind the net, freeing up Faksa who forces his way forward and a shot through Mackenzie Blackwood at the near post just 2 minutes into the game fends off :54 to make it 4:2.

It only brought the Blues within two goals, but it was clear early in the game that the resilience was there and there was still plenty of time left.

Then Toropchenko makes a smart move moving up the right side and spots Suter coming through the high slot before feeding the defender to score his first Blues goal like Faksa at 6:11 and the Trailing to 4-3 with tons of time and momentum remaining.

These guys did the hard and dirty work and called on the big guns to take the game to the finish line, and they did so after a solid performance from the guys at the end.

Each of the fourth-liners had a plus-2, with Faksa playing 12:24 with one shot, two hits and winning six of 12 faceoffs; Walker also played 12:24 with three shot attempts (one on goal), two hits, one takeaway and one blocked shot; Toropchenko played 13:43 with one shot on goal and a team-high four goals and two blocked shots.

Everything in their daily work to help their team win.

Related: GAME REVIEW: St. Louis Blues 5, San Jose Sharks 4, OT

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *